Palaeozoic Aquifer Data from 30 Wells in the Canning Basin, Western Australia

30 oil exploration wells provide data on the major Palaeozoic aquifers in the 430,000 km² Canning Basin. The reconnaissance study by Geoscience Australia analyzes groundwater flow, temperature, and salinity to model the formation of Zn-Pb mineral deposits. The dataset, last updated in 2026, suggests the present hydrogeological regime differs from the Silurian to Permian period when the deposits formed.

Use Cases

• Model compaction-driven fluid flow for ore genesis based on aquifer structure and geopressured zones.
• Analyze groundwater flow direction and velocity based on data from the Poole Sandstone, Grant Group, and Tandalgoo Sandstone aquifers.
• Assess the relationship between groundwater salinity, temperature, and depth along flow lines from the southeast to the northwest.
• Compare present hydrogeological conditions with paleo-fluid flow models for the Silurian to Permian interval.

Strengths

• Data is derived from 30 oil exploration wells, providing a multi-point subsurface reconnaissance.
• The study area covers a large, defined geographic region of 430,000 km².
• Analysis includes specific quantitative ranges for groundwater velocity (0.2 to 0.5 m y⁻¹) and temperature (30 to 83°C).

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The description notes insufficient information on tectonics, palaeotopography, and the age of mineralisation to fully assess gravity-driven fluid flow models.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Reconnaissance study based on analysis of data from 30 oil exploration wells.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 14:10:40.210532; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Canning Basin, Western Australia